Depop, a popular smartphone app used for reselling items of clothing and accessories, responded to a report from Business of Fashion that discovered users were sending explicit messages on the platform.
On Tuesday, November 12, BoF released an article where they interviewed nearly a dozen Depop and heard accounts of people who received sexually explicit messages through the app. According to the users BoF spoke with, others on the platform had reportedly asked them to send nude photos and personal information. In some cases, minors were reportedly solicited for the photos; BoF noted that Depop requires someone to be 13 or older to use the platform. Users told BoF that some of the messages were received over an extended period, and they had notified Depop, but “feel there’s been an inadequate response.”
Speaking with BoF, Dominic Rose, Depop’s chief operating officer, said they were aware of the issue and that they were taking a “zero-tolerance approach” and said the company was working on a tool to more quickly detect abuse and harassment. He said, “Like any online platform, we’ve got to be constantly vigilant about how we keep our community safe on Depop. We have clear terms of service, but of course we also know that there will always be people who try and break these rules and the responsibility is on us to make sure that those rules are clear, that they’re up to date, and that we enforce them consistently.”
In an additional statement to BoF, a spokesperson for Depop said employees take part in “a rigorous and consistent training program led by Depop to handle all inquiries including inappropriate or predatory behavior, harassment, and bullying.”
Business of Fashion noted that numerous others have shared similar experiences. A Reddit forum and an Instagram account dedicated to users misusing the platform has been created.
Users that experience unwanted contact are advised to block and report the person, Rose said. Although he noted that Depop doesn’t “necessarily catch every single instance of misuse on the platform,” they are committed to finding ways to better improve their response and raise awareness of how users can avoid those types of interactions.
Teen Vogue reached out to Depop for comment and a spokesperson responded that they were not commenting on the report at this time.
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